Handcuff



(No Model.)

' 8 M. S. THOMAS 88S. T. SMITH.

- HANDGUFR.

,01'6. Patented Dec. 25,. 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERTON S. THOMAS AND SILAS T. SMITH, OF SAYONA, NEXY YORK.

HAN DCU FF.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,016, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed November 25, 1887. Serial No. 256,143.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MERTON S. THOMAs and SILAs T. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Savona, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Handcuffs,

of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in handcuffs; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, on line a; as of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the pivoted jaws detached.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the tubular handle, having an aperture, C, at the inner end, which is provided on one side with a shoulder, D, the purpose of which is'hereinafter explained.

E E represent the jaws of the device, provided at their inner ends with the disks F F, which are pivoted at their central points upon the transverse pivot-screw G. These disks are provided with radial slots H H, hereinafter mentioned.

I designates a contact-plate, which is arranged between the jaws E E at their inner ends, and is attached to the outer end of the operatingshaft K. The said shaftis disposed within the tubular handle and operates between the disks F F, being provided with a longitudinal slot, N, to receive and slide on the pivot-screw G. This shaft is provided within the handle with the lateral ears L L, which operate between the disks and are provided with the studs M M, which engage in the slots H H.

It will be readily seen that any longitudinal movement of the shaft K will cause a motion of the jaws either toward or from each other,

and the motion of the said jaws will, further,

jects beyond the inner end of the handle sition.

(No model.)

when the jaws are closed, and it is provided with a shoulder, S, which is caused by the spring P to automatically engage the side of the aperture C when in the said extended po- This shoulder is beveled-outwardly, as clearly shown in the drawings, andis provided with a series of teeth or serrations, s s, which engage successively with the shoulder D at the side of the aperture C. The object of this beveled shoulder, provided with teeth or serrations, will be readily seen. As the jaws are forced together by the gradual depression of the contact-plate, the extremity of the shoulder S will pass beyond the edge of the aperture C and the first tooth or serration will engage the shoulder D. Thus the jawswill be securely locked and prevented from reopening; but they are not prevented from closing still further. As the jaws continue to be forced together, the second tooth or serration s will engage the shoulder D and the jaws will be again locked in the new position. Thus the jaws may be locked in any desired position from reopening; but their motion toward each other is only stopped when their ends come in contact.

The operation of the device will now be clearly seen. To apply the handcuff, place the opened jaws over the wrist and cause the latter to press upon the contact-plate, thereby closing the jaws and causing them to be looked as they close. To reopen the jaws, press the thumb-hold laterally to disengage the teeth or serrations from the shoulder D and press the thumb-hold outward or toward the jaws. Being attached to the shaft K, the pressure upon the thumb-hold will operate the said shaft and cause the jaws to be moved.

From the above description it will be seen that the handcuffs are operated entirely by the thumb-hold at the inner end of the handle, so that the hand which grasps the said handle need not be removed or the other hand employed to operate the device. \Vhen the locking means for the jaws are attached to the outer or free extremities of the latter, the operator must employ both hands to open the handcuffs, and, further, the appearance of the device is rendered clumsy by this arrangement.

Although no springs are used in this device to close the jaws, the latter, owing to the a1 rangement of the operating-shaft and the ra dial slots in the inner ends of the jaws, close with a snap when the contact-plate is depressed.

The spring-pawl herein described may be formed integral with and as a continuation of the inner end of the operatiitg-shatt, as

shown in the accompanying drawil'igs.

Having thus described our invention, we elain1 1. In a handeutt, the combination of the handle A, the jaws pivoted to the handle and provided with slots H H at their pivotal ends, the contact-plate located between the jaws and having the operating-shaft K, provided with studs operating in the said slots, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

The combination of the tubular handle, the jaws pivoted thereto, the shaft sliding in the handle and connected to the jaws to operate the same, and a con tact-plate on the end of the shaft between the jaws, as set forth.

3. In a handcnft', the combination, with the tubular handle hating the shoulder 1) and the jaws pivoted to the handle, of the shaft K, connected to the inner ends of the jaws and having the contaet-plate I between the jaws, and the pawl 0, attached to the shaft K and provided with a series of teeth or serrations to engage the shoulder 1), whereby the jaws may be successively locked in various positions as the contact-plate is depressed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4-. The herein-described handeult', comprising the tubular handle A, having a shoulder, D, at its inner end, the jaws E E, havin disks F F on their inner ends, which are mounted on the transverse pivot;- (w and provided with the radial slots ll, ll, the operating-shalt K, provided with the longitudinal slot N, operating on the said pivot and having the coutact-plate I on its outer end betwveen the jaws, the ears L L on the sides of the shaft between the disks 1, and having the studs M M, operating in the slots ll ll, and the pawl. 0, attached to the inner end of the said shaft and comprising the spring P, and the thumb-hold R, which is adapted to pro j eet beyond the end of the handle and engage the shoulder 1') when the jaws are closed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a handcnft, the handle A, the pivoted jaws E, and a hmgitudinally-sliding shaft, K, to operate the jaws, provided with a contactplate, I, to close the jaws, and also having a thumb-hold. projecting beyond the handle to unlock the jaws, as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MERTOX ta. 'lllOJL-LXS. STLAS 'l. SMITH.

\Vi tnesses:

hllNNlE ()ntnrrr, MARY MaLLonv. 

